Ohio Music Education Association

Contributions to Music Education

Contributions to Music Education is a refereed journal published by the Ohio Music Education Association. A primary purpose is to recognize and highlight the importance of social science research in guiding educational practice. The journal is a fully peer-reviewed publication focused on issues related to music teaching and learning in school and community contexts. With a history of over 40 years in print, CME has supported scholarly investigation into music education since 1972. Many important figures have served as editor over the years, and numerous researchers have put forth their work in its pages.

The journal is available in print in nearly every state in the US, and several countries abroad. Since 2005, digital content has been distributed through major academic databases such as ProQuest, EBSCO, ERIC, and others. Full-text archival access (1972-present) is available through JSTOR and RILM. The journal has been published 1-2 times yearly for the past four decades, and is currently produced as an annual double issue, in print and digitized format.

The following sections include information about every volume of CME, articles/authors/abstracts, submission policies, subscription options, the editorial board, and related details. Should you have further interest in the journal or its mission, please feel free to contact the Editor at contributions@omea-ohio.org.

Birch Browning, Cleveland State UniversityWilliam I. Bauer, Case Western Reserve UniversityBenjamin Ayling, Kent State UniversityTimothy Brakel, University of ToledoDorothy Bryant, Ohio UniversityKay L. Edwards, Miami UniversityDarla Funk, Youngstown State UniversityRachel Gamin, Strongsville City SchoolLinda Hartley, University of DaytonVincent J. Kantorski, Bowling Green State UniversityDaryl Kinney, Ohio State UniversityJames Tipps, Wright State UniversityLizabeth Wing, University of CincinnatiMichael Crist, Youngstown State UniversityAnn Porter, University of CincinnatiCraig Resta, Kent State UniversityAnn Usher, University of AkronTami Draves, University of ArizonaRyan Hourigan, Ball State UniversityDaniel Isbell, Ithaca CollegeDebbie Rohwer, University of North TexasMolly Weaver, University of West VirginiaLisa Koops, Case Western Reserve UniversityPaul Louth, Youngstown State UniversityBryan Nichols, University of AkronDaniel Johnson, University of North Carolina WilmingtonLaura Sindberg, University of MinnesotaStephen Zdzinski, University of MiamiRyan Shaw, Capital UniversityMatthew Schatt, Kent State UniversityBrian Meyers, Miami UniversityDavid Hedgecoth, Ohio State UniversityHeather Russell, Cleveland State UniversityScott Edgar, Lake Forest CollegeWendy Matthews, Wayne State UniversityDale Bazan, University of NebraskaJared Rawlings, University of UtahJill Sullivan, Arizona State UniversityLindsey Williams, West Virginia UniversityGregory Springer, University of South Carolina

View Submission Policies

Content and Scholarship

The editorial board welcomes manuscripts reporting the results of original research of a philosophical, historical, or scientific nature that contribute to an understanding of music teaching and learning. Paradigms may represent quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods approaches. Authors should endeavor to articulate sections and content clearly, and include standard elements of research writing. These may include background, purpose, scope, questions, literature review, methodology, data and analysis, and conclusions, among other areas.

In addition, papers that provide a comprehensive review and critique of the research literature on a topic, clearly discussing possible implications for music education, will also be evaluated for possible publication. (Please indicate that your work is a literature review on the cover page.) Only unique reviews of literature will be considered; comparable reports should not be available in other music education publications. If further details would be helpful after reading the submission guidelines, please view the CME website or contact the editor at contributions@omea-ohio.org.

Style and Format

The manuscript text should be double-spaced and use the 12-point serif font Times New Roman (or preferably, Adobe Caslon). Tables and figures should be designed so that they will fit the page size of the journal (approximately 4.5 inches wide by 7.5 inches high) and use no smaller than 8-point font. Any figures or drawings utilized should be camera-ready, in JPG or TIFF format (at least 300 DPI). Please do include these within the article and attempt to construct with the same article font, but know these may need to be sent as separate high-definition, compressed files if the article is accepted for publication. Utilize centered section headings and left-justified sub-headings, both in bold print.

Manuscripts should adhere to recommendations made in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6th edition, 2010), or The Chicago Manual of Style (16th edition, 2010). Those who select Chicago Style should endeavor to utilize the Author-Date option and avoid endnotes, though these choices are flexible. Do avoid appendices and other end matter that can be discussed within the body of the article. The style chosen should be used consistently throughout the manuscript and the title page must indicate the style used. Please check your paper carefully for adherence to style, clarity, and accuracy, before submitting work to the journal.

Submission Procedures

Electronic submissions via email are required. Please send manuscripts to the Editor as a single file (cover sheet included) in WORD DOC/DOCX format. In the subject line, please use: CME Submission (PrimaryAuthor LastName - Month Year). An example would be CME Submission (Resta - Mar18). Authors should retain a digital copy to ensure against loss. If the manuscript is based on a thesis or dissertation, a full bibliographic citation of the original work should appear on the title page.

Total length of the manuscript, including the abstract, figures, drawings, tables and references, should not be more than 20-25 pages. Please endeavor to include all content within the article, and avoid end matter, appendices, and the like. The author’s name, email address, institutional affiliation, and mailing address should only appear on the cover sheet at the beginning of the document. Authors should include an abstract of 100-150 words at the beginning of their article, on the second sheet, just after the title page. Any references to author/s identity should be removed from the body of the manuscript to ensure anonymity in the review process. Also to be included is a running header with abbreviated article title and page number on each sheet.

Contributions to Music Education follows the NAFME JRME Code of Ethics. As stated there, submitting a manuscript indicates that it has not been published previously and is not currently submitted for publication elsewhere, either in its entirety or in part. CME also requires that authors of proposed articles and their methods have treated human participants ethically, according to standard research protocols of an Institutional Review Board or affiliate, and the American Psychological Association.

Evaluation Protocol

Authors are notified on receipt of the manuscript in the Editorial Office. The editor will initially review the work to determine its fit for the journal, and then send out for official evaluation. Several members of the editorial board (generally three), utilizing a blind review process, review submissions. The collective recommendation of the reviewers normally determines whether a manuscript will be accepted for publication.

Authors may receive comments on their work and suggestions to strengthen the writing. If this is the case, a second version of the article may be required, along with a narrative indicating how the editorial comments and related matters were edited by the author/s. This narrative should be included in DOC/X format with a clear listing of how you addressed reviewer suggestions, along with your revised manuscript. The review process takes approximately 8-12 weeks for each blind board review, after which authors are notified of the final editorial decision to publish or not publish the submission.

For original research, reviewers evaluate the following criteria when making a decision as to whether to accept, reject, or suggest revision: (a) importance of the problem, (b) discussion of the problem and its importance, (c) review of relevant literature and/or theory, (d) application of procedures appropriate to the purpose of the study, (e) presentation and analysis of data, (f) validity of conclusions, (g) writing mechanics and communicability, and (h) conformity to style guide.

When examining reviews of literature, the editorial board will consider if: (a) the topic of the manuscript is timely, important, and will be of interest to readers, (b) the manuscript provides a comprehensive review and critique of the literature, (c) the review is coherent, (d) studies are synthesized with connections made among them, providing new insights – not merely a summary of existing studies, (e) a review of literature on this topic is available in other music education publications, (f) the manuscript is well written.

Publication Details

If your article has been accepted for publication by Contributions to Music Education, please note these final requirements to complete your submission. Articles that have been accepted are reviewed by the editor and media designer for issues of accuracy of format, layout, and content. It is the responsibility of the author, to their best ability, to send work that is free of errors, adhering to CME style regulations, including clean, compact images of charts/tables/figures/statistics/and so on. Place these imports within the body of the article, and note they may also be required as TIFF or JPG files. Please also attempt to submit all content in Adobe Caslon font, if possible. While limited use of photos is permitted, authors must provide permissions for any images submitted to the journal.

Please also check that all research references are listed in the final reference section, in alphabetical/chronological order, and adhere to correct style guidelines (APA or Chicago). You should also convert your reference list/bibliography to single-spaced entries for your final submission. The more accurate and clean your submission, the more efficient our publication process and schedule. These policies are designed to help ensure your article is represented in its best light, and keeps the production schedule moving efficiently. This includes thorough checking of statistical procedures and data, qualitative reporting and narrative, and related aspects of methodology and research writing.

Those authors who will have their research published in CME agree to its distribution via print and electronic means. While authors will retain copyright and ownership of their work, they should be aware of permissions they are offering to OMEA and CME for the opportunity of having their research disseminated in a professional academic journal. Unless author/s specifically state otherwise, they demonstrate understanding and agreement with the terms listed below. If author/s would prefer not to have their work published or distributed as their article is readied for publication, they may withdraw at any time.

The agreement between author/s and the publisher, Ohio Music Education Association, is consistent with U.S. copyright law, and grants without charge, non-exclusive permission for the publisher to: (1) reproduce, prepare derivative works based upon the original, publish, and distribute copies of the work to the public by sale or other transfer; and (2) grant licenses to third parties for reproduction, display, and distribution of the work, in whole or in part, as the publisher sees fit. Author/s waive any right to inspect or approve the finished product that may be used in conjunction herewith, or the use to which it might be applied. (Note that this is after the work has been thoroughly reviewed/approved/proofed by the editorial board, editor/s, and author/s prior to publication in print or related formats.)

Author/s guarantee to the publisher and licensees they are the sole author/s of the work, and remain the owner of all non-exclusive rights granted to the publisher. It is also agreed that author/s have full power to enter into this agreement; that the research contains no libelous, obscene or other unlawful matter; and that it does not infringe upon the copyright or violate any other right of any person or party. The author agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the publisher against any loss, damage, claim, liability, settlement cost, or expenses by reason of a violation of any of these warranties.

The Ohio Music Education Association and Contributions to Music Education highly value the individuals who are willing to submit their work to the journal. These regulations are meant for the protection of all interested in the dissemination of their research through CME, various research databases, and related professional avenues. OMEA and CME appreciate the collaboration of those authors who present their scholarship for the benefit of the music education field. Should authors or interested parties have questions about these regulations, please contact the editor at contributions@omea-ohio.org.

View Abstracts and Access

Abstracts are available for all issues of Contributions to Music Education from 1972 to present. Those in volumes 16 and beyond (1989 and forward) are written by authors of the articles. Abstracts for articles prior to 1989 have been written by Martina Vasil (1985-1988), Tammy Kuntz (1983-1984), Jonathan Saeger (1980-1982), Beatrice Olesko (1979), Kristin Coen-Mishlan (1977-1978), and John Owens (1972-1976). You may look for all articles in the search engine here, and use relative terms or exact titles and phrases. For broader metadata search information, please visit the Open Music Library Database (http://openmusiclibrary.org/journal/cme). Full text access is available digitally and in print through journal subscription, scholarly databases, academic libraries, institutional archives, and the like.

For digital retrieval of CME, issues are offered through a number of subscription database sources. These include the International Index of Music Periodicals (IIMP), ProQuest (Central, Professional Central, Education Journals), EBSCO, ERIC, WorldCat, and others (2005-forward). Full-text archives are housed in JSTOR (Arts & Sciences XIII), and RILM (both from 1972 to present). Through these electronic databases CME may be found in 130+ countries internationally, and is now more widely available than at any other point in its history.

There are currently several hundred individual and institutional subscribers, many of which hold full sets back to 1972. A CME archival set is currently being populated and housed with the OMEA Official Papers in the Center for Archival Collections at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, USA. For those interested in receiving the print version of the journal, please click the subscriptions toggle (below) for more details. Further information is also available there on the publication schedule moving forward.

Contributions to Music Education is published once yearly as a double issue volume, and mailed in May of each year. The journal is circulated to the individuals and institutions on its mailing list in the US and abroad, in print and electronic format. CME can be found in nearly all 50 states, and over 100 countries around the world.

Payment may be made by check via postal mail (payable to Ohio Music Education Association), or credit card by phone to David Adamson, OMEA Business Manager (business_manager@omea-ohio.org). Requests for new or existing individual and institutional subscriptions, change of address, current payment status, or relatedmatters should be made to the Business Manager. Academic and content questions can be directed to Craig Resta, CME Editor (contributions@omea-ohio.org).

Volumes 39-42 were released from 2014-2017; and Volumes 43-45 will be distributed in 2018, 2019, and 2020. Earlier copies are presently available to those wishing to complete their collections, start a new library of print issues, or obtain a representative sample for their personal or institutional holdings. We want the journal in the hands of readers, so do be in touch!

Subscription options include individual electronic only, individual print only, individual combination, and institutional print options, in the United States and other countries. Note that special e-access subscriptions specifically for OMEA members are now available. OMEA and CME appreciate your support as the journal endeavors to pursue its nearly 50-year tradition of regularly publishing music education research and scholarship.

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